Tag: healthy cuticles and nails

GIVE YOURSELF A SALON-LIKE PEDICURE AT-HOME WITH THESE 9 EASY STEPS

Published on by Lee2 Comments

As tempting as it is to dish out money for a salon pedicure (I mean, the massage, you guys), it’s not always doable. Thankfully, it is possible to achieve salon-quality results at home. Ahead, find out the must-have products and a step-by-step tutorial on how to DIY a salon-quality Pedi in the comfort of your own home — for a fraction of the price.

DIY Pedicure Step #1: Let Your Nail Polish Remover Do Its Thing

Completely remove any nail polish that’s still on your nails using nail polish remover and a cotton pad. If you don’t have any leftover polish, you should still run remover over your nails to remove any excess oil on the nail bed.

DIY Pedicure Step #2: Soak Your Feet Like You’re at the Spa

Fill your tub with warm water and soap (body wash will do!) and let your feet soak for 15 minutes. (Pro tip: While you’re in the rest and relaxation mode, break out a face mask.) 

DIY Pedicure Step #3: Get Rid of Dead Skin

After drying off your feet, use a foot file to remove any dead skin from calloused, hard areas. Pay attention to the balls of your feet, the sides of your feet and your heels. Scrape these areas until they feel smooth, but don’t overdo it — you could end up causing irritation. 

DIY Pedicure Step #4: File and Shape Your Nails

Use a nail trimmer to achieve the length and shape you want. We recommend cutting straight across and then going in with a nail file to buff out the corners. According to Hadley, a big mistake people make is cutting their cuticles. “Trimming or cutting cuticles during a Mani or Pedi is purely cosmetic and sometimes it doesn’t benefit the nail in any way,” says Hadley. “The cuticle is a barrier to protect your surrounding skin and protect against infection.”

DIY Pedicure Step #5: Apply Cuticle Oil

Apply cuticle oil like Essie Apricot Cuticle Oil to the base of your nail. “Cuticle oil doesn’t just keep your feet soft and moisturized, but it also keeps your polish from chipping,” says Hadley. 

DIY Pedicure Step #6: Moisturize

Moisturize your feet with an unscented lotion to keep the skin hydrated and smooth. “Scented lotions with synthetic fragrances can cause your nail polish to crack.” We love La Roche-Posay Lipikar Daily Repair Body Lotion for this step. 

DIY Pedicure Step #7: Prep Your Toes

Use toe separators (you can buy a 12-pack for cheap online) to make painting your toes easier and avoid making a mess.

DIY Pedicure Step #8: Apply Your Polish

“Don’t forget your base coat because it gives your nail polish something to sink into besides your actual nails,” says Hadley. After about two minutes, the base coat should be dry. Then, you’re ready to go in with a color. Apply two to three coats of nail polish, making sure each coat has dried. Make sure to build thin coats of polish; thick strokes will have the paint looking clumpy and take longer to dry. 

DIY Pedicure Step #9: Finish With a Quick-Drying Top Coat

Finish with a top coat so your nails maintain high shine and luster. Because nail polish takes about 12 hours to harden, Hadley recommends sticking your feet in cold water for a few minutes to help your nail polish solidify. 

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DO THIS BEFORE EVERY MANICURE FOR HEALTHY CUTICLES AND NAILS

Published on by Lee4 Comments

It’s time we put our burgundy polishes to rest (even though it was fun while it lasted) and start prepping our nails for summer. Summer is the perfect time to experiment with bright, poppy shades so I’ve rounded up some essentials to whip your nails into shape. So, before you splurge on the newest Essie collections, make sure your nail beds are ready for their close-up.

KEEP CUTICLE OIL HANDY

Happy cuticles make for happy nails. If you’re one to pick at or bite around your nails, keep a bottle of cuticle oil on your desk as a daily reminder to apply. Dab a little bit on each finger and gently massage it into your nail bed and around the cuticle area for a shot of moisture. Adopting this good habit will help take your nails from sad and dry to shiny and healthy. For easy travel and application, use Essie Apricot Cuticle Oil, which contains skin-conditioning oils that protects your cuticles.

APPLY A NAIL TREATMENT

I have strong, long and healthy nails but not everyone was born with long and strong nails beds. If your nails are constantly breaking, bending or chipping, add a nail strengthener like Essie Grow Stronger to your daily routine or try Essie Millionails every other day. Think of it as vitamins for your nails!

GIVE YOUR NAILS A GOOD BUFFING

To smooth away any ridges and prevent your nails from snagging and tearing, buff or file the edges at the first sight of chipping so that the damage doesn’t get worse! I love the Tweezerman Neon Hot 4-in-1 File, Buff, Smooth & Shine Block, perfect for giving nails a high shine finish.

APPLY HAND SALVE BEFORE BED

To keep your hands and nails healthy and moisturized, apply a thick layer of heavy-duty hand cream like Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve or the Intensive Treatment and Moisturizer for Dry or Callused Areas before bed. It may sound silly, but wearing gloves overnight will help the cream penetrate your skin, and smoother hands means less peeling and cracking around your nail beds.